The Washington Post recognizes 18 principals with the Distinguished Educational Leadership Awards and 20 teachers with the Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher Awards. These educators were chosen by their school systems for going above and beyond their day-to-day duties to create exceptional educational environments for D.C. area students.

“Thirty years ago, The Post introduced the Agnes Meyer Award as a way for our community to spotlight local teachers who, through their work, exemplified Meyer’s steadfast commitment to education and, most importantly, our local students,” said Katharine Weymouth, publisher of The Washington Post. “It brings me such pleasure to see how this program has grown and, with the Distinguished Educational Leadership Award, recognized so many great educators year after year.”

Recipients of the Distinguished Educational Leadership Award will be invited to attend a three-day seminar focused on media and crisis communication training as well as sessions addressing current issues in the field of education. Todd Whitaker will give the keynote presentation. Whitaker is one of the country’s leading authorities on staff motivation, teacher leadership, and principal effectiveness and the author of the national bestseller What Great Principals Do Differently.

The winners will be honored at two separate award ceremonies at The Post in May and will be featured in a congratulatory ad that will run in the paper.

The Distinguished Educational Leadership Awards were established in 1987 to spotlight principals who create exceptional educational environments for their students. The Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher Awards, which began in 1983, acknowledge teachers who work hard to ensure children receive a high-quality education.